The DePuy Pinnacle hip recall lawyers at Wright & Schulte LLC note that a new study has been published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Study that appears to back allegations contained in thousands of DePuy Pinnacle hip lawsuits filed on behalf of individuals who were allegedly harmed by a metal-on-metal version of the Pinnacle hip system. The five-year randomized study, which was published on March 19, 2014, compared metal ion levels among patients fitted with 28 and 36-mm metal-on-metal and 28-mm metal-on-polyethylene hip replacements. At five years post-op, metal cobalt and chromium ion levels were significantly higher among the metal-on-metal patients compared to metal-on-polyethylene hip recipients. Cobalt ions showed significant increases from two to five years in the 36-mm metal-on-metal group. At five years, five patients in the 36-mm metal-on-metal had cobalt or chromium levels of >7 ppb.

(jbjs.org/article.aspx?articleid=1840106, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, March 19, 2014)

According to court documents, more than 5,000 DePuy Pinnacle hip lawsuits involving an all-metal version of the hip that utilized the Ultamet liner are currently pending in a multidistrict litigation underway in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas. All of these lawsuits allege that patients suffered serious complications, including excessive levels of chromium and cobalt ions in their blood, due to the DePuy Pinnacle’s metal-on-metal design. The complaints further allege that the accumulation of these metal ions in the tissue surrounding the hip can lead to metallosis, chronic pain, adverse local tissue reactions, and premature hip failure. Finally, plaintiffs claim that if this this metal debris accumulates in the blood stream, patients could experience systemic reactions in other parts of the body, including the heart, central nervous system, and kidneys. (In re: DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. Pinnacle Hip Implant Product Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2244)

In January 2013, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned that patients fitted with all-metal hips were at risk for premature device failure due to metal ions that can be shed from the devices. The FDA has advised patients with metal-on-metal hips to undergo blood tests to detect excessive levels of metal ions in their blood if they experience any of the following symptoms:

Pain in the groin, hip or leg

Swelling at or near the hip joint

A limp or change in walking ability

Noise (popping, grinding, clicking or squeaking) from the hip joint

The agency has also proposed new rules that, among other things, would require the manufacturers of all-metal hips already on the market to conduct post-market safety studies of their products if they wanted to keep selling them.

According to a report published by Bloomberg.com in May 2013, DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has decided to stop selling metal-on-metal hip implants, including the all-metal version of the Pinnacle hip. While the company continues to deny allegations raised in DePuy Pinnacle hip replacement lawsuits, DePuy did acknowledge that the FDA’s actions in regards to all-metal hips helped to drive the decision.

Recipients of the metal-on-metal DePuy Pinnacle hip replacements may be eligible to file their own DePuy Pinnacle hip lawsuit if they experienced elevated metal ion levels, chronic pain, metallosis, premature hip failure, or any other complication allegedly related to its all-metal design. To learn more, or to arrange for a free legal consultation with an attorney at Wright & Schulte LLC, please visit yourlegalhelp.com.

Wright & Schulte LLC, an experienced personal injury firm, is dedicated to the belief that America’s legal system should work for the people. Every day, the attorneys of Wright & Schulte LLC stand up for the rights of people who have been injured or wronged and fight tirelessly to ensure that even the world’s most powerful corporations take responsibility for their actions. If you’re looking for a law firm that will guarantee the aggressive and personal representation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte LLC today. Free Lipitor lawsuit case evaluations are available through yourlegalhelp.com or by calling 1-800-399-0795.